Classification of Forklift Trucks
For little under a century, the forklift truck has been working its magic. Even today, this particular piece of machine is found in every warehouse operation throughout the globe.
Because of World War I, there were shortages of manpower which ed to the creation of the first forklifts. Businesses like Yale & Town and Clark introduced the material handling machine which used powered lift tractors in their plants. In the year 1918, Clark saw the potential for these machines and began selling them.
It was in the 1920s that the design of forklifts changed from a tractor with an attachment to a dedicated machine that was equipped with a vertical lifting mast. The forklift developed and became more sophisticated with the Second World War. The forklift played an essential part during this time in the handling of supplies for different armies all over the world. It was also during this time that the introduction of the wooden pallet proved the need for the lift truck within the material handling business.
Lift trucks gained momentum and continued to develop when the Second World War ended. In the 1950s, forklifts that use batteries made an appearance. There were other more specialized forklift models introduced like for instance the Narrow Aisle Reach truck. This model was made by the Raymond Corporation. During the 1960s and 1970s, improvements were made in the electronic controls area. This made forklifts much more versatile and businesses were able to look at warehouse efficiency.
There are numerous options you can use to power a forklift these days. These comprise electric battery, diesel, gasoline, CNG or compressed natural gas, LPG or liquid propane gas. The first hybrid forklift was developed by Mitsubishi. It currently operates on lithium ion and diesel battery. This particular kind uses 39 percent less fuel compared to existing models. Statistics show that its carbon dioxide emissions are roughly 14.6 tons less than those forklift models which are powered by IC or internal combustion engines.